Geneva, 5 March 2019 – Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will work together to boost vaccine coverage and improve health systems in the world’s poorest countries following the signing of a new Memorandum of Cooperation.
The agreement was signed by Dr Seth Berkley, Gavi CEO, and Dr Takao Toda, JICA Vice President for Human Security and Global Health last week in Tokyo.
“Japan has been a key Gavi supporter since 2011, helping us to vaccinate millions of children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases,” said Dr Berkley. “I’m delighted to sign this new agreement with Dr Toda, which will ensure we continue to work together to improve the health of children worldwide for years to come.”
The Memorandum of Cooperation commits both Gavi and JICA to collaborate to enhance information sharing and improve the use of innovation in areas including modernisation of the cold chain, digital identification and the digitalisation of maternal and child health and immunisation data.
The two organisations will also promote the dissemination of integrated records, such as a maternal and child health handbook, and explore ways to promote the sustainability of immunisation programmes through technical cooperation and the use of innovative financing instruments.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) coordinates Japan’s official development assistance (ODA).
Notes to editors
About Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate half the world’s children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has helped to immunise a whole generation – over 760 million children – and prevented more than 13 million deaths, helping to halve child mortality in 73 developing countries. Gavi also plays a key role in improving global health security by supporting health systems as well as funding global stockpiles for Ebola, cholera, meningitis and yellow fever vaccines. After two decades of progress, Gavi is now focused on protecting the next generation and reaching the unvaccinated children still being left behind, employing innovative finance and the latest technology – from drones to biometrics – to save millions more lives, prevent outbreaks before they can spread and help countries on the road to self-sufficiency. Learn more at www.gavi.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. View the full list of donor governments and other leading organizations that fund Gavi’s work here.